Snap clamp or grip for electrical conductors.



T. F. JOHNSON, .IR.-

SNAP CLAMP 0R GRIP FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

APPL|CATION FILED FEB. 18,1914.

Patented Feb. 2231916..

TLNTTED STATES PATENT @FFIQE roriLInsoN ronr'ionnson, an, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

SNAP CLAMP OR GRIP FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

} Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed February 18, 1914. Serial No. 819,360.

To all whom it may comer ar Be it known that I, ToMLiNsoN Four JoHNsoN, J12, a'citizen of the United States, and a resident of Atlanta, in the county of l ulton and State of (ireorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Among the numerous uses of this im-t proved snap clamp or grip, the following conditions of practice may be mentioned. The connection of a bank of transformers or services atany point of the line has hitherto required a. more or less permanent type of connection tothe transformers, at the place desired, the installing or repairing of which interrupts the service to all the other customers along the line. This connection can be made with the present snap clamp without interrupting the service. When a workman is repairing the line at any point, he is required to take the precaution of grounding the line to avoid the danger of being killed by a misunderstanding at the power station. The snap clamp or grip of the present invention finds an important use for making such ground connection. Also it is frequently desirable to connect one line to another, the two being advantageously used in multiple for a certain period, and by the snap clamp or grip in the present invention, such connection of the two lines in multiple may be made without shutting down the service on either line to make the cut-in. Also the snap clamp or grip in the present invention has an important feature in use as a substitute for pole disconnecting switches, and for sectionizing lines, and for various uses as jumpers between conductors and other purposes as will be later pointed out.-

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a snap clamp or grip embodying -theprinciples of this invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Constructions embodying the lnventlon will include a pair of jaws 1 and 2, with a V entrance 3, the V entrance of the jaws opening into a transverse passage 4 between the jaws which is adapted to be very tightly gripped or clamped upon the usual circular pare. conductor 5 of a transmission or other ine.

In the best constructions embodying the invention the jaw 1 is made the terminal of a flexible conductor 6, which is preferably socketed'into this jaw and held by a setv screw 7. A soldered or brazed joint may be used. For the purpose of strength. a

somewhat enlarged lug or base 8 is formed on the lower portion of this jaw 1, with a flat face 9 at a convenient angle on one side, wh ch lug or baseis drilled and tapped for the set screw 7 which impinges on the flexible conductor 6. This jaw 1 may, for the purposes of convenient definition, be termed the loop carrying jaw, as it receives the flexible stranded or flat conductor 6 which may be a loop to another clamp; This flexible or other conductor is not always a 2 joined to another'clamp, however, asit is useful for grounding transmission wires or the like, and by the term loop, it is not (lesired to confine the invention to use of an actual loop between two separate clamps.

The loop carrying jaw 1 has a yielding or pivotal connection with the other jaw, which is thereby relatively movable with respect to the loop carrying jaw. In addition to being relatively movable the two jaws are furthermore designed to be gripped toward one another so as to tightly grip upon a conductor wire.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the loop carrying jaw 1 has studs 12 rigidly projecting therefrom, which .extend loosely through holes 13 in the relatively movable jaw 2, which studs I2are surrounded by comparatively small coil springs 14 hearing on the relatively movable jaw. and against the fixed anchorage afl'o'rded by the heads 15 of the studs. The studs are most conveniently, formed of simplemachine screws threaded into the loop carrying jaw, and having lock nuts 16 securing them rigidly in place. -Washers 17 interposed between the ends of the springs and the jaw 2 and stud heads 15, willordinarily be provided to better permit movement of the springs. It will be evident that these springskeep the relatively movable jaw always yieldingly pressed toward the loop carrying aw.- This fact is utilized inestablishing a very simple pivotal connection between the two jaws consisting of a mere rounded bead at the upper end. of the relatively movable jaw-which is received in a corresponding groove 21 at the upper end of the loop carrying jaw; The foreclosure of the springs 14 makes this pivot as effective as any kind of pivot, and it is more 4 durable, and cheaper to construct than a 1 is manifest.

hinge or the like. The proper position of the studs 12 and springs 14 is at about the middle of the jaw 2, and also, preferably,

the whole clamp in view of the four zone engagements of the four facesv on the circula-r conductor wire. The advantage ofthis engagement as to current carrying capacity It is, of course, to be constantly borne in 'mind that the whole effectiveness of the clamp is dependent on its current carrying capacity, since without high current carrying capacity any attachment is obviously worse than useless, being wasteful, totally unreliable, and exceedingly dangerous. In

this connection the strong spiral springs 14 have an important'efi'ect in insuring a good electrical contact, as does also the location of the studs and springs in close proximity to the transverse grooves 4, so that they have a direct action. The V entrance to the aws will be of substantial size, opening outward into a fairly considerable separation, so as to permit easy manipulation. Both ja-Ws are.

preferably cast, the relatively movable jaw 2 having a rib 22 along the back, in the best constructions, which by running from tip to tip of the-relatively removablejaw in a substantially straight line gives the maximum strength and maximum lightness,'and also compactness...

The further features of the invention relate to the manipulation of the clamp by.

which it is easily attached to .and detached from the transmission wires.- Near the upper end of one of the jaws, preferably near the top of the loopcarrying jaw 1, an eye 23, or equivalent projecting lug is formed,

preferably by an integral ribat this point,

drilled with a comparatively large hole. At the lower end of the clamp and preferably on the same jaw, another hook or lug 243: or

' groove 4.

the like is formed, also preferably integral, i

I prefer a simple upstanding cast hook 2 on the lower part'of the loop.- carrying jaw; With this construction the device can" be. easily manipulated by anyone under any circumstances, it being merely necessary to take a pole, lift the snap grip into the air by the eye 23fand poise it over the conductor 5., on which a'connection or tap is flesiredq The device is then lowered until thejVljaws pass over the conductor, after which the pull of a pole on the lower hook 24 snaps o'r grips the conductor into the V of the jaws and into the transverse conductor receiving To disengage the clamp it is merelynecessary to hook the'end of the pole into the eye 23 and pull downward, "where upon the snap clamp flips upside down and is in a position to be pulled'directly off the conductor as shown-in Fig. 3. It is evident that this manipulation is equally easy,

Whether the transmission Wire is carrying current or otherwise. In fact the line may I be charged to eleven thousand'or fifty-five" thousand volts, or almost anyvoltage without danger to the'workman who does all the manipulation through a longpole comparativel'y distantly removed from the charged conductor. Of course, the polemay have a hook or-pin or stud or any similar.

projection at the top to more conveniently engage the eye and hookv in an obvious manner.

The device will ordinarily be used with two snap clampsconnected-atthe ends of an.

intermediate loop conductor, so that the pair may be snapped betweentwo 0011- ductors' for any purpose, as for example,

amble of-the. specification.- Its convenienceof attachment and particularly its current a carrying capacity make it particularly adapted for use as aconnection between'two conductors, one for tapping in transformers v orbanks of transformers for new or temporary customers on a line-without interrupt ing the service of'other customers and also for temporarily or permanently connecting line, or grounding the line.

In general the clamp may twolines in multiple or for dead ending-the i be used almost any of the purposes referred to in thepre-i anywhere in this class of service, since its current carrying capacity is high enough to be relied upon under all conditions, and the device is therefore as serviceable as any. form of tap connection which can be made. On the other hand the quickness with which it may be attached and detached, and particularly its ability to be manipulated by a pole, out .of any zoneof danger, makes it. possible of use throughout its whole range on the line, which. is always a matter of trouble and inconvenience, and which in-' terferes with th s rvice. The snap. clamp ,of service without interrupting the power of the present invention makes it possible to provide for practically all conditions withs out interrupting the service and to makk connections with this clamp in place of using a soldered permanent connection which has substantially no greater current carrying capacity or durability in its'favor to warrant the extra cost, trouble, inconvenience, danger and delay.

instead of jaws of cast metal, sheet metal jaws may be used, andin this casev substantially the same form may be given to the complete clamp by suitably shaping and embossing the metal. For example, the

relatively movable jaw may be made with V shaped longitudinal and lateral corrugations intersecting like a cross, the transverse groove being for the conductor 5, while the longitudinal groove gives stifiness like the rib :22 of the first construction, The loop carrying jaw may have a riveted on hook on the bottom and a riveted on eye at the top, both hook and eye having an L shape or T shape in transverse section so as to afford a base suitable for riveting to the body of this jaw. The T shape may be given by bending one ear in one direction, and another ear in another direction, or may be made by having two thicknesses of sheet metal with separate ears bent in opposite directions. The pivot connection between the jaws is readily provided by turning up over a pair of Years or lugs at the upper end of the loop carrying jaw, and similarly carrying to one side an intermediate lug or lugs on the relatively movable jaw, which will cooperate in an obvious way with the lugs of the loop carrying jaw to form sort of a hinge or pivot c0nnection, held together by the force conductor 5.

February A.

of the springs as in the first described con jaw, a spring on said stud for closing the jaws together, a projection on one of the jaws for lifting and lowering the device into engagement with an. overhead conductor, and means on one of the jaws for the at tachment of a cable thereto. 7

A grip for electric conductors comprising a pair of jaws with a V entrance between them, grooves on the jaws to upon the conductor, a bead and groove an gagement between the jawsconstituting a hinge, a spring between said hinge and said first mentioned grooves, a projectionon one of the jaws for lifting and lowering them into engagement with an overhead conductor, a projection to permit the jaws to be forcibly pulled or drawn down over a conductor, and an enlargement on one of the jaws to which a cable is connected.

Signed at Atlanta in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia this 11th day of TOMLINSON FORT JOHNSON, JR. Vitnesses:

C. E. BENNETT, \V. P. HAMMOND. 

